Evalyn

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

  Evalyn

  Brigette’s Bridal Registry

  Book 4

  Patricia PacJac Carroll

  Evalyn ~ Bridgette’s Bridal Registry Book 4

  Copyright © March 2020

  Published by Patricia PacJac Carroll

  ALL rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, (except for inclusion in reviews), disseminated or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or audio. Including photocopying, recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system, or the Internet/World Wide Web without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

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  ~~~

  Check out this series of Gentle Reads

  Bridgette’s Bridal Registry

  Jericho

  Florence

  Hannah

  Evalyn

  Other Books by Patricia PacJac Carroll ~ Click Here

  Historical Romance Series

  Mail Order Brides of Hickory Stick ~ Series:

  Caroline’s Love

  Julia’s Romance

  Sarah My Beloved

  Jonesy Jones

  The Lone Stranger

  Redeeming Lilly

  Lady and the Scamp

  Bride and Prejudice

  Mail Order Brides of Misfit Ranch Bluebonnet, Texas ~ Series

  Nettie’s Love

  A Bluebonnet Misfit Christmas

  Yancy’s Bride

  Mail Order Brides of Black Horse Mesa ~ Series

  Greta’s Story

  Maggie’s Story

  Matt’s Story

  Table of Contents:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Evalyn

  Bridgette's Bridal Registry

  Book 4

  Chapter 1

  Evalyn Ladd gathered her satchel and scarf and put on her worn coat before she disembarked from the train. With help from the conductor, she stepped down onto the platform. Not that she really expected anyone to meet her, but the fact that no one did only accentuated her loneliness.

  Then again, that was the reason why she was in the town of Shirleyville in the Montana Territory. Tired of being alone in Ohio, she had signed up to be a mail-order bride. Bridgette Merritt had written that Evalyn had been selected for a man in Montana. The travel across the continent had been long, but she hoped it would be worth it.

  Evalyn clutched her reticule and took comfort in hearing the envelope crinkle. The letter and the advance that Bridgette had sent her were her tickets to a new life. She had come early by a few days. Mainly because she couldn’t bear to stay in the empty house another day, or even worse, night.

  Her father had died six months ago, leaving her alone in the small shack on what used to be the family farm. Several years ago, a season of droughts and hail had ruined their crops, and Father had lost the farm. The new owners had allowed them to stay in the shack with a few of their personal belongings.

  Evalyn took in a breath of fresh air and wondered what she would find in Shirleyville. She wasn’t sure but decided it couldn’t be worse than what she’d come from. After looking up and down the busy street, she saw the Peace Hotel at the far end of town. Evalyn hadn’t eaten all day, and barely any yesterday.

  Feeling overwhelmed, she sat on the bench at the depot. She had the advance money, but she’d learned how quickly money could disappear and had refrained from getting lunch. Evalyn opened the satchel and looked at the envelope that held her funds.

  She prayed that the man Bridgette had picked out for her would be one of good character and capable of providing for her. Evalyn was so very tired of being destitute. She shoved the envelope back in her bag and stood.

  Today, she’d get a room in the hotel and a good meal. She needed all her strength to meet the man she was to marry. Evalyn left the depot and set off across town to the hotel. The wind blew against her and sent chills down her back to her toes.

  Cold weather was coming. Ohio had its share of snow, but looking at the mountains, Evalyn knew she was in for a season of white. She snugged her ragged coat around her and stepped into the street.

  Charging hoofbeats alerted her to step back as a cowboy galloped too close past her. Evalyn could still see his face. Angry and wild, the man rode as if he were on fire, sliding the buckskin to a stop in front of the saloon. He jumped down, tossed the reins over the rail, and ran inside the bar, not even caring for his horse.

  Evalyn frowned. What a crude man, he was no doubt, ignorant and full of bad manners. She hoped all the men in Shirleyville weren’t like him. Then again, she only needed one good man. She continued across the street and passed the café on the way to the hotel. She was tempted to enter and get lunch, but she needed to see how much her room would be.

  Finally, she entered the hotel and embraced the warmth. For being in a town out in the west, the foyer was neat and clean. Her mood improved, and she asked the clerk how much the room would be.

  “Ten dollars a night.”

  His answer caused her to feel faint. The advance she had would run out before the month was out. Surely, she wasn’t expected to marry within the month.

  “What’s your name, miss? It wouldn’t be Evalyn Ladd, would it?”

  Shaking the dizziness from her mind, Evalyn nodded. “Yes, it is?”

  “Bridgette Merritt stopped by and paid for your room. She likes to put the mail-order brides in the room facing the mountain. I think you’ll like it, and it’s all paid for.” He handed her the key. “Is there anything I can get you?”

  Evalyn shook her head. “I think I’ll have lunch.” She noticed the dining room and went inside and took a table by the window. She ordered beef stew and felt herself growing stronger by just smelling the aroma of delicious food.

  After eating everything on her plate, Evalyn was full and regretted partaking in such a feast. She should have eaten light. She sipped the coffee and looked out the window. Angry looking blue clouds to the north looked as if they meant to cause trouble.

  She’d heard one patron mention snow, but since Evalyn didn’t need to go outside for anything, she would look forward to watching the beauty. Resting before going to her room, she looked at the busy street. For a small town, Shirleyville was bustling.

  Shouts caught her attention, and she slid her gaze down the street to the saloon. It was up a hill not far from the church. Angry men came out of the bar. Fists flew until the man she’d seen gallop past her earlier, jumped on his horse, and galloped down the street.

  Evalyn wondered who he could be, and why he was so angry. Mad at the world, her father would say. She sighed. Shoving the wild cowboy out of her sight and mind, her thoughts tumbled into the re
alization of all she’d lost in the last few years.

  Her family. The fever had taken her sister, brother, and Mother. The weather killed the farm. And heartache and grief finally took her father from her. Except for the man Bridgette had matched her with, Evalyn was alone.

  Was the man who was to be her groom-to-be also lonely? Why had he settled for a mail-order bride? After all, what circumstances would lead a man to choose a woman he didn’t even know? She knew why she’d answered the ad. Evalyn couldn’t take another lonely winter by herself. Or for that matter, another spring, summer, or fall.

  Evalyn had spent too many days and nights staring at empty walls with no hope that her life would change. That’s why she had taken the chance. So, was the man chosen for her the same?

  She took another sip of the coffee that had by now turned lukewarm, but it still took the edge off sitting by herself in the dining room. She wasn’t sure why, but sipping coffee gave her the illusion that she was busy and had things to do rather than a lonely woman trying to pass the time.

  That wild cowboy was still out there causing trouble. He ran his horse down the boardwalk back to the saloon. But now she saw a sheriff riding toward him. All serious, the tall lawman kept one hand near his pistol, the left one, so that would make him left-handed. The other guided his horse after the wildly, laughing cowboy.

  It was almost as if the man wanted to be stopped from his wild ride. The sheriff caught up to the troublemaker and grabbed the reins from his hand.

  Evalyn’s heart raced as she prayed there’d be no bloodshed between them. The threat of violence had her wondering what she had been thinking of traveling to an untamed land? Here she was a woman from a small town in Ohio where the biggest excitement was a cow getting loose and eating Mrs. Grumbelts cabbage.

  Not wanting to watch yet unable to take her eyes from the unfolding drama, Evalyn sipped her coffee while trying to look like she was uninterested in the drama outside. She gasped when the lawman pulled his gun and waved it at the cowboy. The young man stepped off his horse and threw his hands in the air. Another man had come to help. Maybe the deputy because he took the cowboy’s gun and marched him down the street.

  Evalyn sat back in her chair and relaxed. They walked out of her line of sight, and she thought they must be taking him to jail. He deserved it all right, yet, she was sad for him.

  Why did people have to be so reckless and rough? Evalyn was always careful and kept watch around her. She made a point to stay two steps ahead of every move she made. This coming to Shirleyville was the one thing she’d done where she hadn’t known how it would end. Her one reckless act.

  She prayed taking the risk didn’t put her in trouble as it had that cowboy.

  ***

  Reid Cahill stayed ahead of the deputy to keep him from jabbing him in the back with Reid’s own gun and walked into the jail. He’d seen it before. How could he have been so stupid, again? Bridgette was going to be angry and probably keep his half of the bounty. Well, so be it. After being cooped up in prison for a year, any man would want to let loose.

  Levi Smith, the sheriff, frowned at him. “Why’d you do it, Reid? All you had to do was stay away from the saloon.”

  “I don’t know.” Reid sat on the cot and rubbed the knot on his head. Leave it to him to pick a fight with the toughest man in The Gilded Lady. “My horse, can you put him up for me?”

  Levi nodded. “I didn’t think you cared about him. I’m sure he was thirstier than you when you galloped him through my streets to the saloon, and all you did was tie him to the post. But I’ll take care of him. You are another matter. Just sit there and cool off until I figure out what I’m going to do.”

  The sheriff shut the door with a clang and turned the key in the lock. With one last shake of his head, Levi left the cell room, leaving Reid alone with his thoughts.

  Reid hung his head and wondered why he’d been so foolish. He knew better. Still, he had spurred that horse and rode through town as if the Indian nations were chasing him. The only thought he’d had in his head was to get to that saloon.

  Then he went in, and the only thing he could think of to do was poke fun at the biggest and meanest looking drunk in the place. Here he had a sweet deal with Bridgette, and he’d ruined it within minutes of reaching town.

  What was wrong with him? He hadn’t even given Bridgette a chance to tell him what she had for him. She wouldn’t be happy. Reid hoped he wasn’t going back to prison. The warden had warned him that he fully expected Reid to wind up back in jail within the month. Ha, it hadn’t even taken a day.

  Maybe if Bridgette had told him what kind of job she had for him, he might have been more settled. But Reid couldn’t think of anything he’d be good at besides getting into trouble. And then there was that talk that he’d have to marry someone.

  Reid was not the marrying kind. He didn’t like the idea of having a woman boss him around. He could only guess what she’d be like. Probably some heavy German or Scandinavian girl that would want to rule him with an iron fist.

  No, sir. Reid didn’t want any of that. Besides, he didn’t think Bridgette liked him. And he knew the sheriff didn’t.

  The note the warden had given Reid on his way out of prison had said that Reid was to check in with the sheriff and then Sterling Merritt. That was Brigette’s husband. Reid grinned to himself. At least, he’d done the first thing he was supposed to do.

  Reid banged a tin cup against the bars. “Sheriff, I need to see Sterling Merritt.”

  The sheriff shouted from the other room. “Quiet. Ronan went to tell him where you are. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have visitors before long.”

  Reid threw the cup down and slammed a palm against his forehead. “Stupid.”

  What was in him that set him against everything good and wise? Even as a young kid, Reid had been in trouble. His teacher thought he might have had bad hearing but then found out there was nothing wrong with his ears. The problem was deeper than that probably brought on by a father who strayed from the law.

  A sad feeling came over him. His mother had told him more than once that the trouble wasn’t in his mind but in his heart. “You’re a rebellious boy, Reid Cahill.” He’d heard that more than once. The rest of his mother’s lecture would call on him to read the Bible. But like most of the instruction Reid received, it had fallen on deaf ears and an ever-hardening heart.

  Reid held out slim hope that Bridgette would give him another chance. Levi might not, but Reid’s money was on Bridgette. That woman could convince a man to buy ice in a blizzard.

  He collapsed on the cot and looked at the little table next to him. An old Bible rested against the wall, ready to fall. Reid rescued it and set it on the table. Curious, he flipped the book open and read the underlined verses.

  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…He restoreth my soul.” Reid stared at the words. All his life, he’d wanted what he couldn’t have. That was the fire in his belly that led him down the crooked path to prison.

  Was it possible his soul could be restored? Reid wondered. Yet, Bridgette had grilled him here in this very jail, and then said she’d split the bounty with him and represent him before the judge in Wyoming to win him a shortened sentence.

  She’d believed in him. Reid knew that Bridgette had turned down other outlaws. So, why did she take a chance on him? What had she seen? He stood and paced around the cell. Would Bridgette still see him as someone who could make a go at a second chance at life?

  Chapter 2

  Bridgette smiled at her husband. He was so good to her and had asked her to come into town today, so he could take her to lunch. She was one blessed woman. Of course, she was also glad he brought her into town because her latest mail-order bride should have come in on the train.

  Then there was Reid Cahill, who should be out of prison and in Shirleyville any day. She wasn’t sure about him, but she’d had the distinct feeling the Lord wanted her to take on his case. Well, she’d see how that would work o
ut.

  Sterling set his napkin down. “Did you want dessert?”

  “Oh, you know, I do. Blackberry pie.”

  Sterling ordered two desserts. “Bridgette, I wanted to congratulate you on not bringing any more women out here to marry your outlaws.”

  “Ex-outlaws.” She sealed her lips. Now, how was she going to tell him that she needed to stop by the hotel and jail?”

  Sterling’s gaze turned serious. “You have stopped your enterprises, haven’t you?”

  “This dessert is wonderful.”

  “Bridgette, I don’t like what I am thinking. Please, tell me I have no reason to worry.”

  “Dear, you know that I made a deal with those men. I can’t back out of it. And the women, they are so desperate for a husband. I do think I told the woman that it would be a second chance kind of romance.”

  Sterling set his fork down. “I can’t believe you went behind my back.”

  “I didn’t. You never asked me, and I never told you. I got notice that Reid Cahill would be out of prison this week. I’m sure he is probably here by now.”

  “And the woman?”

  “Evalyn Ladd. She sounded so lonely in her letters. I did pray about her match with Reid, and it felt so right.”

  Sterling ran a hand through his hair. “I suppose you didn’t tell her she was marrying a man of questionable character?”

  “Well, no. I didn’t really tell her that, but it will work out. I have three very successful matches now. Four if you count Pierre and Francesca.”

  Frowning, Sterling threw down his napkin. “You have been lucky. This is going to backfire on you one of these days.”

  Bridgette finished her pie. “I hope not, but I want to help people. The Bounty Brigade fell into my lap and the matchmaking along with it. I believe things will work out.”